Tinubu Joins Hilda Baci’s IG Live To Give Her Words Of Encouragement

Tinubu joins Hilda’s IG live to give her words of encouragement.

Hilda Baci, a Multitalented Nigerian actress, producer and chef is attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual with a four-day cook-a-thon.

Tinubu's words of encouragement: 

“Idan doesn’t break. She breaks records. 
We are rooting for you Hilda”

https://instagram.com/stories/officialasiwajubat/3102376733374315274?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igshid=NjZiM2M3MzIxNA==

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How ‘Poor Planning’ Forced Policy Summersaults Ahead Of Buhari’s Exit

The outgoing administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has tactically reversed some of its policy decisions in the last eight years.

Some observers told Daily Trust on Sunday that although some of the policy summersaults, which came as a result of poor planning, while others were sold as dummies to the president by some people for personal gains, they were good for the system.

They said that while it was not a bad idea to review decisions once apparent glitches were established, some of the reversals witnessed in the last few weeks would negatively impact on the legacies of the president, who has few days to leave after eight years in power.

They argued that the story would have been different but for the fact that so many things were taken for granted by the outgoing administration, thinking that eight years were a long time, only to realise that they had started running against time to actualise certain things.


Projects that wobbled

Many Nigerians feel that although a legitimate policy, the controversial currency redesign was terribly handled.

Shortly after the general elections, the president had to bow to mounting pressure from critical stakeholders, especially citizens who suffered untold hardship due to the scarcity of cash that hit the country following the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The scarcity of naira notes had forced the CBN to adhere to the Supreme Court decision that old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes would remain legal tender until December 31, 2023. This followed suits files by governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who disagreed with the implementation of the policy in the midst of preparation for general elections.

The CBN, led by Godwin Emefiele, introduced the new notes in December last year, amid efforts to fight corruption, terrorism, counterfeiting and related crimes. They had fixed a January 31, 2023 deadline.

The rising tension across the country due to the difficulty faced by Nigerians to get the new notes forced the apex bank to extend the deadline to February 10.

The decision of President Buhari on February 16 to extend the validity of only the old N200 notes to circulate as legal tender with the new N200, N500 and N1,000 for 60 days from February 10 to April 10, 2023, also failed to resolve the cash crisis until the intervention of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which threatened to carry out a nationwide protest if the CBN did not find a permanent solution to the cash scarcity.


Removal of fuel subsidy

Just like the cashless policy, which is yet to be perfected, the plan to remove fuel subsidy has also created panic. The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, had said at different occasions that subsidy on all petroleum products would be removed by June 2023. However, her remarks after the last National Economic Council (NEC) meeting of the Buhari administration, which suggested the possibility of extending the June 2023 deadline set for the removal of subsidy, had raised the suspicion that the federal government might not take the action at the already fixed period again.

However, a statement by her special adviser on media and communication, Yunusa Tanko Abdullahi, noted that the federal government had not suspended the removal but rather expanded its committee to include teams from the incoming administration and the state governors.

The same statement revealed that the 2023 Fiscal Framework and Appropriation Act, as well as the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), had made the provision that government should exit fuel subsidy by June 2023.

In addition to the actions that portrayed the current administration as inconsistent is the last-minute postponement of the national population and housing census earlier scheduled from May 3 to May 7, indefinitely. The exercise was earlier moved from March 29, 2023 due to the general elections.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, in a statement, had announced that the earlier scheduled exercise would now hold on a date to be determined by the incoming administration.

It stated that the president gave the approval after meeting with some members of the Federal Executive Council and the chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC) and his team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Explaining the reason for the action, Dr Inuwa Jalingo, the 2023 Census Manager and Director, National Population Commission (NPC), had said at a news conference in Abuja that the population and housing census was postponed due to government’s transition programme and the post-election mood in the country.


Reversals bad for Buhari’s legacy, good for democracy – Prof Fage

Reacting, public affairs and political analysts have said the reversal of policies by the Buhari administration could be both negative and positive. They said it was negative because of the perception of the leadership acumen of the president, and positive because in most of the cases, it is a success of democratic process.

A renowned political scientist, Professor Kamilu Sani Fage, observed that the reversals became possible because the policies were conceptualised at the tail end of the administration, which meant there was no time for their implementations.

He said the reversal of the naira redesign policy was a triumph of democratic process over authoritarianism that was obtainable during military regimes.

“Buhari was forced to abide by the democratic process of decision making, in terms of monetary policy. He was wrongly advised because he thought he could do it by fiat or decree, the way he did it as a military leader in 1984,” he said.

Fage said everyone knew how highly controversial the issue of fuel subsidy had been and how it would negatively affect the country; as such, it would be wrong for President Buhari to implement it at the end of his tenure and allow the next government to take up the “problems.”

“Politically, that would be unwise. As such, it could be said that the reversal was out of political consideration. For the census, since 1963, there has not been a census that has been accepted nationally because of its sensitivity; and it will be very wrong for him to do it at the last moment when he had eight years.

Even if the census was done, it has to be analysed before taking it to the Council of State. So, you cannot do something and saddle the next government with the controversies that would come with the process.

“The federal government has been forced to know that it is not military rule, it is a democratic system; so, the views and opinions of the people matter. We can see it as a positive thing from the democratic perspective. But from the leadership view, it is negative,” he said.

Also commenting, a senior lecturer in the Department of Public Administration of the Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Dr Saidu Dukawa, said the reversal of those policies indicated that they were not well thought out in the first place. “It is a big minus in terms of policy making. And it gives the government a bad image,” he said, adding that the federal government has wasted a lot of resources.

“That’s why it is always advised that programmes and policies are well thought out at the stage of planning,” he said, adding that these reversals mean that the leader lacks the necessary manpower, both at the advisory and implementation levels.

Similarly, an economist, Professor Ndubuisi Nwokoma, condemned what he called the inconsistency of the outgoing administration, which he said explained the reversal of most of his policies at the 11th hour.

Nwokoma, who is the director, Centre for Economic Policy Analysis, University of Lagos, said most of the policies were driven by various interests, which the president succumbed to.

He said, “There are so many interest or pressure groups working on the policies. On the census, there was no need. There must have been an interest group that wanted it. But in my opinion, it is very obvious that it was not necessary; we don’t need it at this stage. It seems like an agenda. I don’t know why he must do the count before he leaves office. Why also do you have to rush it? You can take time and plan it.

“The naira redesign was also an issue about interest groups. Whatever they had in mind would be the action of the elections. Of course the Supreme Court intervened in this case and we are now using the old notes.

“Fuel subsidy is also driven by interest groups; and the idea is to save himself from the implications on his person. He just wants to push that to the next government. So, it just shows inconsistency and not being able to think through a policy before bringing it out. I think that is also a defining factor for his administration, that he has not been able to put himself together. He is under the pressure from different interest groups.”

He advised the incoming government not to emulate President Buhari, saying, “The Buhari model has been inconsistency; and people suspect his motives. He also knows he is not doing well because he was asking for pardon. So, he knows there were areas he offended the public. He has been inconsistent and sometimes vindictive, and he has come to realise that.”

Also speaking, a professor of Political Science, Gbade Ojo, also urged the incoming government to have well thought out policies.

He said the lack of coordination by the Buhari government was responsible for the reversal of most of the policies.

He said, “Ordinarily, an organised and coordinated outgoing government will not dabble into such critical issues when they don’t have much time to hand over. A situation whereby they were planning naira swap few days to elections when you knew very well that another government would be coming in, as well as planning census, shows that those running the government are not organised.

“When you look at the budget, what it caused to organise national elections and what it would cost to organise a population census in a country that the economy is not buoyant, you don’t do such huge expenditure the same year. It is not the best.

“I want to say that it is advisable the outgoing government hands off, including the fuel subsidy withdrawal. They are supposed to let a new government begin all over.

“They are even talking about salary increase when they are handing over in a few days’ time. Those things are madness. But you have been there in the last eight years without increasing salaries. Those are issues for the new government. They want the new government to come and workers would begin strike. Ngige and his cohorts are not getting it right.

“It all boils down to the fact that Buhari is not running a coordinated government.”

https://dailytrust.com/how-poor-planning-forced-policy-summersaults-ahead-of-buharis-exit/

Hilda Baci Is Set To Break Guinness World Record With Marathon Cooking

So, Hilda Baci, a Nigerian Chef is attempting to break the Guiness Book of records for the longest cooking Marathon by an individual. She will be cooking for 4 days non-stop , 96 hours. 

The current record stands at 87 hours and 45minutes

She is 42 hours in. 

A total of 18 brands have tied into the record-breaking moment for sponsorship. 🔥🔥🔥

Please head over to Instagram and show support https://instagram.com/hildabacicookathon?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

https://twitter.com/santherlabelle/status/1657351341986000896

It’s Day 3 of Chef Hilda Baci Bassey’s attempt to break the existing record for the Guinness Books of Record World’s longest cooking marathon.

The Multi- talented Tv producer, Actress and Foodpreneur started her 4-day cooking marathon challenge on the 11th of May and she is now on day 3 fast approaching the finish line.

The event which is holding at Amore Gardens in Lekki, Lagos, seeks to showcase Hilda’s culinary skills using various local and intercontinental recipes to put Nigeria on the global culinary map of the World.

This is indeed a Herculean feat which the 27 year old chef is on as she sets to break the record of of 87 hours, 45 minutes, and 00 seconds set by Chef Lata London in Rewa, India in 2019.

The Cook-a-thon is headline sponsored by GB Food, makers of Gino tomato paste, Ginomax and Bama. Other sponsors include Woodscope, Amore Gardens, Vendease, AfriGlobal, Uber, Arla Foods, CWAY, Filmhouse, ORIKI, and PowerOil.

Friends and fellow influencers like Enioluwa, Seyi Awolowo, Elozonam and other influencer are also cheering her on at the venue while others drum support for her across various social media channels.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/pmnewsnigeria.com/2023/05/13/day-3-chef-hilda-baci-set-to-break-guinness-world-record/%3famp=1

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Your Dad Built No Hospital: Falz Knocks El-Rufai Who Mocked Him For UK Surgery

Nigerian singer, Falz has hit back at Governor Nasir El-Rufai's son, Bashir El-Rufai and others who criticized him for undergoing a knee surgery in UK instead of Nigeria, IGBERETV reports.

Some supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress including Bashir had accused Falz of hypocrisy for taking medical treatment abroad after he (Falz) criticized Nigerian leaders that did same.

Reacting to this, Falz said they are being audacious with stupidity, adding that they are so desperate for “ammunition” which is why they are latching on to his knee surgery gist.

https://twitter.com/falzthebahdguy/status/1656979354117713920?t=QMg8xSmOhGCGGazZfhHICA&s=19

The singer also retweeted a follower's tweet accusing Bashir's father and others of failing to build good hospitals that'll cater for the health needs of citizens. 

The tweet read;

"I'm more disappointed because your father and his thiefing gang refused to build good hospitals that'll cater for the health needs of citizens. So, rich private citizens go abroad for medical care the same way your father and his friends travel abroad for medical tourism."

https://twitter.com/DrVic_Exotic/status/1656669506033573892?s=19

https://igberetvnews.com/1444880/dad-built-hospital-falz-knocks-el-rufai-mocked-uk-surgery/

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30-yr-old Woman Gives Birth After 6-yr ‘pregnancy’

Oluwaseun Bolatito and her baby.

Oluwaseun Bolatito, a 30-year-old woman resident in Lagos, gave birth to a baby girl on Saturday, May 7, 2023. She claimed she had been pregnant for six years and some months.

Oluwaseun christened the child “Anuoluwa”, meaning God’s mercy.

Also, Elder Michael Bako, the Founder of Light Evangelical House of God in Oshodi, Lagos, where Oluwaseun worshipped since 2018 after she discovered she had been “pregnant for over a year”, confirmed the development, especially the role he played.

Elder Michael Bako revealed that Oluwaseun started worshipping at his church in 2018.

Authorities report more than 500 pregnancy cases in secondary schools in northeast Benin
He said: “She was pregnant for over six years and was unable to give birth during that period.

“It was the issue that lead her to this church,” he said.

However, Oluwaseun, who said she had been subjected to mockery in her neighbourhood, went into labour on Friday night and was delivered of a baby girl on Saturday at Anu Olu Convalescent Maternity Home in Mafoluku area of Oshodi.

It was learned that when the news of her baby’s birth reached her community, people rushed to the hospital to see for themselves.

However, a medical expert that does not want to be named, told Vanguard that it could be a case of fibroid.

However, the medical personnel advised an examination by a professional to ascertain what really happened.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/05/30-yr-old-woman-gives-birth-after-6-yr-pregnancy/

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Ekweremadu Taught English In Wandsworth Prison’

Former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, started giving back to society while waiting to be charged for “facilitating and arranging travel with the aim of exploiting “a 21-year old”, a former inmate, Mr. X, has told The Guardian. 

He described him as a “simple and nice man.” The Nigerian-born X, however, said he had never heard of the Senator before both met at the His Majesty’s Prison. 

Ekweremadu, who was sentenced with his wife, Beatrice, and Dr. Obinna Obeta at the Old Bailey last week Friday, got support from people he had helped in the past, the former prisoner disclosed. 

Speaking with The Guardian inside the Caffè Nero shop opposite Courtroom 1, where the Senator was slammed with over nine years jail term on the day of the sentencing, X said he was at Wandsworth Prison when Ekweremadu was brought there in June last year, after he and his wife were arrested on arrival at Heathrow Airport on June 21.

“He was always having a lot of letters,” he said. Asked if the letters were written by the Senator and how he came about them, the former inmate replied with a “no,” adding, “People were writing him from Nigeria.

Those he had helped before.”

X, who has regained his freedom since late September, after a Southwark Crown Court jury pronounced a “not guilty” verdict on him, also said the Senator read the Bible a lot and prayed during his time Wandsworth. 

Giving a glowing reference for the former deputy senate president, X disclosed that, “he was lecturing. He was teaching a lot of Eastern Europeans English.”

Ekweremadu was later moved to Belmarsh before his trial started at the Old Bailey on January 31.

https://guardian.ng/news/ekweremadu-taught-english-in-wandsworth-prison/

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North Roars: Grant Us Leadership Of NASS Or We’ll Withdraw Support For APC, Govt

North roars on APC: Grant us leadership of NASS or we’ll withdraw support for party, govt

North roars on APC: Grant us leadership of NASS or we’ll withdraw support for party, govt
•Says demand not negotiable as north is not in control of Executive, judiciary

Hundreds of Northerners who converged on the Arewa House Kaduna on Friday, have threatened to withdraw support for the government and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) unless the North was given the leadership of the National Assembly and other ministerial appointments.

The Northerners attended a one day round table on Nation Building and Democracy with the theme, ’The imperative of participation, equity and equitable development of Northern Nigeria', powered by the Democratic Research Institute (DRI).

“In the communique signed by Prof.Tukur Muhammad- Baba, Chairman of the Communique Committee and Dr.Benjamin Izra Dikki, Secretary, the Northerners emphasized that because the North was not in control of both the Executive and the Judiciary arms of government, their demand was non-negotiable..”

“In a table that was contained in the communique that showed the percentage of votes across the 6 geo- political zones, the Northwest zone gave a total vote of 2,652235,the North Central 1,742,993 while the North East gave 1,185,458. The total contributions of the North was 63.5%.”

The communique indicated that the South-west gave 25.7%, the South-south 9.10 while the South-east delivered 1.45% of the votes for the ruling APC.

The communique reads:

“Based on the contributions of the North in the just concluded General Elections, as evidenced in the table above, the round table, which drew participants from all the nineteen Northern states, concluded that the progress, transformation and development of the region are hinged on its stake in government, particularly access to political, economic incentives and opportunities and therefore resolves as follows:”

“Demand the leadership of the National Assembly in consonance with the provisions of section 14 and sub-sections (1), (2) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. This is necessary because the North is not in control of both the Executive and the Judiciary arms of government. This demand is non negotiable.”

“The North also demands fair share of ministerial and other appointments. Such appointments should take cognisance of competence, integrity and track record, otherwise, the region is left with no option than to de-invest its support for the government and the party in subsequent elections.”

Earlier in a welcome address delivered by Prof.Al-Mustapha Ussiju Medanar, he said
the central objective of the Roundtable discussion was to highlight and deepen the conversations around the roles and the place of the Northern region in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy and fostering nation-building through key players and partners of the region, among others.

He said: “For me, it is a privilege to be a participant of this preparation for an all-inclusive recognition of the place of northern Nigeria in the Nigeria calculations and the veritable focus on the equitable development of northern Nigeria.”

“The theme of today’s discussion, “Nation Building and Democracy: The Imperative of Participation, Equity and Equitable Development of Northern Nigeria” is key to addressing the socio-political challenges that face the contiguous northern region of Nigeria.”

“The central objective of this Roundtable discussion is to highlight and deepen the conversations around the roles and the place of the Northern region in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy and fostering nation-building through key players and partners of the region, among others. “

“I must state emphatically that the northern region of the country, constituting the North-West, North Central and the North-Eastern states, respectively, is a uniquely indispensable part of the nation, Nigeria. The region consists of approximately 68.67% of the population of Nigeria; it is the sole sustenance of the country agriculturally, and remains by providence, the major contributor to the political evolvement of the country from independence.”

“The northern region has effectively engaged its diverse endowment in population and various capacities to benefit the nation, in all ways possible; having been a pillar of strength on many fronts for the country.”

“It is indeed my great honour to welcome all of you; the Panelists, Discussants and selected representatives across the States of northern Nigeria. I am confident and sure that we will have a very vibrant discussion and tailored solution for an equitable development of our dear region.”

“The decision to hold this Roundtable was a response to the current political situation in the country and the preparation for the promulgation of the 10th National Assembly, particularly its leadership. The need to avoid the crisis of misrepresentation of our people and region in the distribution of rewards for political participation in the 2023 general elections, most especially the presidential election and to accept a common ground to hold all political office holders responsible for the job they are expected to carry out in the incoming administration.”

“We must have it at the back of our minds as we go into the subject of our discussion that our region contributes more than any other, as a major stakeholder in the current political dispensations including the victories of the ruling party at the polls, and as such, the region would rightly deserve and ask for commensurate rewards from the spoil of the war fought.”

“Democracy is an investment; vote is an investment. In a democratic politics, the party with the highest votes takes it all. Our region is well aware of this, and we have invested robustly in the incoming administration. The size of our votes and the consistency of our participation across the region in what we stand for is our testament. Figures do not lie; of the 8,794,726 million votes that gave the president-elect victory at the poll, 5,200,589 million representing approximately 60 percent came from our region. And for every elected Senators and HOR members from the platform the ruling party that won election, the margin of difference in their votes and that of the president-elect from each constituency is minimal; an indication of total commitment to the total cause of the party, unlike some other regions.”

“The North knows its problems and challenges; and that is the reason why we made so much political investment as a means to get the solutions we desire for our region and our people.”

“Our region is beclouded by non-ending insecurity. From North-East to North Central and splitting to the North-West, the consequences of insecurity in all its ramification has left trails of poverty, death and displacements of people from their homes and survival.”

“The poverty figure of the country placed our region as the most hit; with about 65 percent of the population of poor Nigerians living in our region. We are mostly referred to in the academic parlance as the least educationally developed region of the country. Unemployment is at the highest in the region as well.”

“At the back of all our discussion today would be the plight of our common region in the larger Nigeria entity. We must therefore take a stand of what must be done to return affirmative and commensurate dividends for our all-inclusive participation and investment in the Nigeria democracy and political business. We must take a decision as a region that has an equity that is well above 60 percent of the shared equity of the Nigeria business.”

“As part of the plans for an intrinsic discussion, we would be having sectorial pre-discussions on various topical issues with regard to the northern region after which we will break into discussion syndicates. The panelists would arise from the syndicate meetings to make a submission of the consensus agreements from the syndicate meetings which would form the crux of the final Position paper, which is the stand of the roundtable. “

“Here today, we will commence a process that will continue to strengthen the reach and take of our region without jeopardising that of others in the Nigeria entity; taking what equates to our input.” “Today, I want to hear your ideas, and frankly too. Your ideas about how to drive inclusive, equitable development of our region, because that is something that we all owe our people and what our positions have placed on us to do.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/05/north-roars-on-apc-grant-us-leadership-of-nass-or-well-withdraw-support-for-party-govt/